The family of Tim Coy, known in these Current Middle ages as Lord Cedric Westbrooke, Squire to Sir Alan Culross, suffered a horrible tragedy when his wife Lady Audrey Westbrooke (MKA Lisa Coy) died in a house fire early on the morning of Christmas Eve.

December 28th

On Thursday, December 20, Teresa Calderon, who was 20 years old, passed away due to a tragic accident. She was a member of The Crows Nest household founded by Garvin the Slow. She was also a lapsed member of the Barony of Cleftlands and the shires of Alderford and Gwyntarian, in the Middle Kingdom.

Reclaiming the Blade, a new film celebrating the art of the sword, is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2008. Narrated by John Rhys-Davies, the film "explores both European and Asian historic swordplay and offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of stage combat on the silver screen."

December 27th

"I itch in the cathedral; When I pray upon my knees: God, You saved us from damnation; Now save us from the fleas!" writes Laura Amy Schlitz in Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From a Medieval Village, a new children's book reviewed by John Schwartz for the Sunday New York Times.

According to reviewer Edward Hirsch, a Wodwo is a "raw, spooky, elemental," a Middle English word meaning “half-man, half-animal spirit of the forests” which appeared in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Hirsch reviews a new translation by Simon Armitage.

Need to take off a few pounds or kilograms from the holiday feasting? Eat like your persona! A Shropshire physician claims that Europeans in the Middle Ages were in some ways much healthier than modern people.

The Kingdom of AEthelmearc and the SCA grieve for the loss of THL Ulric Wulfricson, who entered Valhalla on December 16. Ulric was known for his extensive service, including keeping the lights running for the A&S and performance tents at Pennsic War as part of the Technical Services team.

Viscountess Elashava bas Riva of Northshield recently braved the weather and traveled south for Bardic Madness South which took place December 15, 2007 in the March of Loch Morrow (Macomb, IL). She reports and shares photos.

When members of the Northamptonshire County Council bought Chester Farm near Irchester several years ago, they never dreamed they might need to put the historic site up for sale to keep it from falling into disrepair, but now that may be necessary.